D’Ukes are a very entertaining 6-piece electric ukulele covers band. Formed in Chelmsford in 2009, D’Ukes emerged from a regular ukulele pub jam session. They have since gone on to perform on TV, Regional and Local Radio and were the only UK band invited to the Czech Republic’s first ever Ukulele Festival which they headlined. D’Ukes draw on the diverse experience of enthusiastic ukulele players from across the Essex region whose interests cover the complete musical spectrum. What brings them together is an enthusiasm for playing a small instrument with 4 strings!
D’Ukes versatility in reinterpreting songs across a wide range of genres using only the ukulele with a hint of percussion and plenty of humour, amazes audiences and leaves them wondering what’s coming next! Their repertoire suits all tastes and ages and ranges from 1960’s pop to current favourites and with D’Ukes great vocals, slick solos and song arrangements it is hard for the audience not to be singing, dancing and smiling!
D’Ukes have developed into a highly sought after ukulele band and can regularly be seen at many types of venues all around London and the south of England at theatres, festivals, pubs and special events. They regularly pack out venues big and small leaving audiences wanting more.
D’Ukes are also an experienced street performance and mobile busking act and have performed at events around 2012 Olympics, the Tour De France, the Prudential Ride London and the Cambridge Buskers & Street Performers Festival.
D’Ukes are Brian Smith; Dave Warren; Hazel Smith; Jo Kerr; John Mattock and Martin Burdikin.
The Band Members
Brian Smith
Lead Uke and Backing Vocals
Brian started playing guitar in pop, soul and rock bands (some with Mike) while still at school before moving over to a spell of stage lighting with Hazel and Mike. Work interrupted music for many years but Brian eventually returned, setting up a home studio, buying more guitars/ukes and writing and recording original music. He also likes good coffee, films and leather jackets.
Dave Warren
Lead Uke & Bass Uke
Dave started out playing guitar in new wave and punk bands in the 1970s before developing an interest in film and theatre music that lead to scoring soundtracks for a number of plays and short documentaries. After a brief relationship with EDM in the 1990s he returned to the guitar and started to develop his rock and jazz guitar skills. Nowadays he juggles a career teaching guitar and ukulele, presenting An evening with UkeManDave, playing jazz guitar in the quintet Interplay, leading his own Dave Warren JazzQuartet and playing lead uke in D’Ukes.
Hazel Smith
Uke & Vocals
Hazel has owned and run a stage lighting company with Brian and Mike, working with rock bands and roadshows all over the country. Having retired from her job as a press officer, she now finds herself on the other side of the spotlight, joining D’Ukes as a uke player and singer. She also enjoys listening to opera and writing, having penned novels, short stories and lyrics. She is a member of the Chelmsford Writers’ Group and collects antique teddy bears. She came to the ukulele via one of Dave Warren’s inspirational group sessions at the Orange Tree Pub in Chelmsford and continues to love its versatility.
Jo Kerr
Uke & Vocals
Jo took up the flute aged 9 and has been a fan of instruments that you can take on a bus ever since. The ukulele began to feature in her life when she saw a silver resonator, bought it and learned the basics over a weekend. She has taught the ukulele and run choirs as well as fronting several bands over the years. Jo’s musical taste is eclectic and she loves the sense of fun a ukulele brings to any band. She loves to work on harmonies and vocal arrangements and looks to constantly improve her playing and increase her repertoire.
John Mattock
Bass Uke
John’s first venture into music was playing drums and occasional bass in various bands around East London and West Essex. After a long non music career, John returned to music, first as an instrument collector and then after attending a workshop run by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain got back into playing music this time with the ukulele. As D’Ukes developed, John returned to one of his original instruments and now plays bass in the band as well as acting as the band’s publicity man!
Martin Burdikin
Uke & Vocals
Martin’s musical taste range from Bellowhead to Radiohead, folk meets alternative rock. He will sometimes (normally unsuccessfully) try to mix both these genres on the ukulele. If it were left to Martin the band would be playing lots of 90’s music (that’s 1890’s music). Fortunately, the rest of the band also choose the set lists!
Mike Clarke
Sound Engineer
Mike has known Brian since school days and played bass guitar in a band with him in the sixties. He worked assisting Brian and Hazel with their stage lighting venture, and then formed a sixties cover band in which he played bass for over 27 years until retiring recently. Mike now ‘flies the sound desk’ for D’Ukes.
